Mount Picton

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Mount Picton

Postby possytas » Sat 24 Dec, 2016 2:28 pm

We planned to climb Mt Ossa Christmas week, but thankfully found the reports of the access road closures. Instead, we decided on an overnight at Mt Picton. As a 40+ and a 50+ year old couple who are healthy but not 'fit', we found this one challenging but very rewarding.

The start point was easy enough to find by following previous notes. Having a Landcruiser we drove the last section of road - I wouldn't have wanted to take a two-wheel drive up there.

The track was often muddy, with a number of trees/branches fallen over the track. With overnight packs at times it was a difficult decision whether to go over or under! From memory there were three water crossings; all managed with no wet feet (either a log bridge or rocks to step on). There were also two climbs that have a rope for assistance. I really enjoyed this section of the track; there were a number of birds and it was interesting forest. Pretty sure I spotted a Lyrebird. My partner did not enjoy it so much. He managed to fall in a mud hole resulting in a tree-branch stabbing him in the chest and a broken trekking pole.

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The track

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Water crossing


After 4 hours we made it to the Lake Riveaux and Glassworm Tarn junction. At this point I think it's fair to say we'd both had enough. Although we'd only walked 4.1km, we had climbed 500m and the track condition meant that high concentration was necessary the whole time. We kept going towards Steanes Tarn.

A further 2.3km, and 290m climb had us arrive at our camp site. This section of the track was less muddy, but had overgrowth making it a challenge with a large pack at times. We set up our tent on one of the large flat rocks at the base of the summit. We were lucky to have no wind and the place to ourselves. There is plenty of water available.

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Camp site - Federation Peak on the horizon


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Sunset


The next day we climbed the summit via the cairned track (1.6km). We had a clear day and magnificent views. One of the best we've seen. We stayed up there for half our or so before making our own way back down the more direct and steep route up, but was easy enough to do.

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Climbing the summit

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Climbing the summit

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Peak

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Peak view

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Peak view

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Summit view


We had some lunch before heading back down to the car.

I think I recall reading somewhere that this walk is about a 7.5 hr return. It took us more like 11 hrs (6 hrs up and 5 hrs down) - and this is excluding the summit!
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Re: Mount Picton

Postby Geevesy » Sat 24 Dec, 2016 2:38 pm

Nice! Would love to return to that area. I unfortunately didn't have the weather you had...
A path! A path!
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Re: Mount Picton

Postby Snowzone » Sat 24 Dec, 2016 7:29 pm

Thank you for your report. This is somewhere I need to get back to after missing out on this walk a year ago after doing the Eastern Arthurs. I really enjoyed your pics. :-)
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Re: Mount Picton

Postby waif » Wed 04 Jan, 2017 6:11 am

Absolute blue-bird of a day you had there!

I did it about a year ago and managed to get my Camry right up to the start of the track, the road was only a little rutted. As a day walk it wasn't actually as long or hard as I thought it would be, however with overnight packs it'd be a slog.
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Re: Mount Picton

Postby silvereye » Wed 01 Feb, 2017 8:41 pm

Good report and great pics.
Looks like you were especially blessed with the weather.
I second your comment RE: the road condition though. I drove down there just before Christmas to go up to Square Tarn and very nearly wrecked my Outback. That last half a km or so is atrocious. Guess it must have been the flooding last winter that did it.
On the way back I took about an hour or so to fill the worst holes with rocks and dead branches so I could make it out safely :)
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